You are required to carry out background research into your chosen topic and report on your findings. You must present the results of your investigation as a word-processed document. The report should summarise the state of the art, historical development, or current trends in your topic. A clear description of the potential for further development within the area must also be given.

Structure:

Your report should not exceed 4000 words in length (9 pages), be presented using a 12-point font at 1.5 line spacing and should include figures, tables, etc. where appropriate. All submissions must be accompanied by a full set of references (books, journal articles, conference proceedings, web pages, software etc.). A suggested set of sections / headings is as follows:

Title

Table of Contents

Abstract (or Summary)

Introduction (i.e. background)

Review of literature

Conclusions

Further Work

References

Appendices (if any)

Suggestions regarding style:

Titles and headings should be concise and informative

The title should convey all the important ideas in the report and the main focus

Section headings should reflect the logical structure of the report

Titles and headings should be numbered and formatted

Avoid personal pronouns such as I

Keep sentences short and to the point

Avoid abbreviations, jargon or slang

Use simple language, when possible

USE THE SPELLING CHECKER

Possibly use the grammar checker (though exercise caution with this)

Remember:

You must include only the RELEVANT papers and books that you have read.

You need to weave the references into the description, rather than listing all the references and describing each of them.

You may find it useful to include a table(s) that describes references by features.

Your Literature Survey should help you place your project into a body of knowledge and should prevent you “re-inventing the wheel”.

Your Literature Survey should describe the areas and sub-areas of relevance, indicate the “hot” areas and the gaps in knowledge.

You must draw together a range of connected references and provide a clear summary of the work describedin your own words, while demonstrating awareness of the context in which the work was carried out and the potential for further development.